TV Stars Talk Prep for Emmys, Dress Selection

By ROBERT PACE

September 17, 2013

As they launched Emmy Week in proper fashion with Audi and Altuzarra in West Hollywood, Calif. at Cecconi's, some of television's most eligible Emmy winners talked about this year's ceremony, how they're preparing for it, and hinted at what they'll be wearing on Sunday.

"I'm rooting for Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed [O'Neill], and Sofia [Vergara][and] Julie [Bowen]," Modern Family's Ty Burrell said of his individually nominated co-stars. The comedy is also nominated for Outstanding Comedy series, which it has taken home for all three of its previous seasons.

"We've been lucky enough to have won," added Burrell, who is nominated for his fourth-straight Supporting Actor Emmy, which he won in 2011, "and it would be really fun if Sofia could win one—I think she really deserves one—and I really, truly believe that Jesse and Ed deserve one too."

Although Burrell backed both of his male co-stars to with an Emmy, they are both competing for the same award, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, which slots a trio of Modern Family actors in the category.

This is no rarity, however, as Burrell, O'Neill, and Ferguson have been jointly nominated for the award for the past three years, and Burrell and Ferguson have been category partners for an additional year.

That amounts to 11 nominations in the same category for the trio, nearly 20 percent of the 57 nominations the show has received for four seasons. With another five wins last year, the popular comedy series has tallied 16 wins in total, and is up for another 12 awards this year.

"Every year, it's more fun because we're more relaxed," Jesse Tyler Ferguson said of the show. "The first year, we're like, 'Oh god, are we going to get renewed for a second season?' ... Not that we're cocky in any way shape or means, but we feel like we've settled in a little bit. We're not quite so skittish."

Among a group of seasoned TV actors was Mad Men's Jessica Paré, who was humble and excited in anticipation of attending her third Emmys awards show.

"I'm really looking forward to it, I have to say," said Paré, who joined the drama series as a regular in Season 5. "...Going to the Emmys is obviously such a great honor, and then being there with such an amazing group of people—Jon Hamm, Lizzie Moss, January [Jones], Christina [Hendricks] and [John] Slattery and everybody else on the show, it's very exciting."

After raking in 15 awards for its first four seasons, including a record-tying four awards for Outstanding Drama Series, Mad Men surprisingly drew a blank at last year's Emmys on a substantial 17 nominations. The acclaimed show, which has received a grand total of 97 nominations, is up for another 12 nominations this year.